Juvic tumbles to joint seventh in Japan Open

MANILA, Philippines – Juvic Pagunsan slowed down with a 74 after a sizzling, tournament-leading 66 Thursday, tumbling down to joint seventh with former Masters champion Adam Scott and five others halfway through the rich Japan Open Golf Championship at the Rokko Kokusai Golf Club East Course in Hyogo yesterday.

Near-flawless with seven birdies against a lone birdie in the opening round of the $ 1.6 million event, Pagunsan lost his touch off the tee and on the green and fumbled with three bogeys and needed a birdie on the 18th to card a 38-36 round in tough conditions at the par-72 layout.

He actually scrambled for five pars, including four straight from No. 13, but just could not hit a birdie in the early going unlike in the first round where he gunned down four at the frontside.

With a 140 aggregate, the ace Filipino shotmaker slid to joint seventh with Scott and Thai veteran Prayad Marksaeng, who shot second straight 70s, and Japanese Yusaku Miyazato, Hideo Tanihara and Shingo Katayaman, who both had 71s, Rye Hyun-woo, who fought back with a 68.

While Pagunsan wavered, Satoshi Kodaira scorched the frontside with seven birdies and went on to fire a 10-under 62 to seize control at 133, two strokes ahead of amateur Takumi Kanaya, who fired a 66 for a 135, while defending champion Yuta Ikeda and Hwang Jung-gon turned in identical 68s for 136s.

Angelo Que, who also had an impressive bogey-free 68 start, likewise faltered at the finish with two bogeys for a 74 as he dropped to joint 20th at 142, nine behind Kodaira.

Over in Macau, Marvin Dumandan settled for a 70 after a 69 as he fell to joint 29th at 139, six shots behind Indian Anirban Lahiri, Korean Wang Jeung-hun and Brazil’s Adilson Da Silva in the second round of the Macau Open at the Macau Golf and Country Club, also yesterday.

Lahira shot a 67, Wang made a 68 while Da Silva fired a 65 to share the lead at 133, one stroke ahead of Aussies Sam Brazel and Scott Hend, who had 66 and 68, respectively, for 134s.